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How to Get a Cuba Visa on Arrival

ViaHero · Updated October 3, 2018

Travelers from almost every country need a visa (technically called a Tourist Card) to travel to Cuba. While you can get a Cuba visa on arrival in Havana, most airlines won’t let you board unless you already have your visa in hand. Keep reading to learn top tips for getting a Cuba visa quickly and easily. Once you give the article a read feel free to message us any questions you still have about the visa process.

Want to make the most out of your trip? Tap into our network of local travel planners—Heroes—who build unique, locally-curated trip plans, designed just for you. Get started.

Easiest Ways to Get a Cuba Visa

Getting a visa/Tourist Card for Cuba before you depart is simple and will give you peace of mind when you arrive in Cuba (and help you arrive at all). There’s no advantage to waiting to get your Cuba visa on arrival, so go ahead and get it in advance in one of these ways:

Online in advance

From your airline

From your tour operator

From your cruise line

From the Cuban embassy or consulate

The most efficient way for most Americans to purchase a Cuba visa/Tourist Card is online, ahead of time, through sites like Easy Tourist Card. You can also purchase your Tourist Card from your airline, but pricing and purchase location vary. Plus, buying your Tourist Card online in advance means not waiting until the last minute to secure your necessary documentation.

If you’re not flying to Cuba and you’re going on a cruise, the cruise line may provide your Cuba Tourist Card in advance or when you board, but it's very important to make sure (you might not be allowed to board a boat to Cuba without a Tourist Card).

If you’re going on a guided tour, then you should get details from your tour operator on how to get a visa, it may be included in your tour price. If they don’t provide details, ask for them.

You can always go to the embassy or consulate to get your Cuba Tourist Card, but this is generally a hassle and often requires you to go in person. Our travel planners can answer your questions about where to get a Cuba visa as you plan your trip.

Cuba Visa on Arrival

If you do get to Cuba without a Tourist Tard, or with a Tourist Card that hasn’t been properly filled out and needs to be replaced, you should be able to purchase one at the airport in Havana for around 25CUC. But you’ll have to be patient and work on Cuban time. You might arrive to find that there’s no one there to help you get your Tourist Card, that there’s a long line, or some other issue. You’ll be stuck in the airport until that’s handled. Get your Cuba visa in advance and things will go much more smoothly.

Still have questions about getting a Cuba visa on arrival? Our local Cuban travel experts are here to help. Message us to get started! And before your trip, make sure to check out: